Get up to speed on fasting

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said: “Fasting is a protection from the calamities of this world, and a veil from punishment of the next.”

When you fast, aim to purify your soul from every sin, darkness, arrogance, pride, greed and heedlessness so that you may know yourself and discover the treasure that lies within you. Know that from fasting comes purity of the heart, purification of the limbs, cultivation of the inner and the outer being, thankfulness for blessings, increase of humble supplication, sincere weeping and most of the ways of seeking refuge in Allah.

The philosophy of fasting has been discussed previously – All about fasting. In this article we explore some rulings regarding fasting.

Some rulings concerning fasting

• If while eating and drinking, a person realises that it is Fajr (Time for Morning Prayer) he should remove the food from his mouth. If he swallows it intentionally his fast is void.
• There is no objection to receiving injections, but if possible it is better if injections are avoided while fasting.
• If a person observing fasting intentionally swallows something which remained in between his teeth, his fast is invalidated.
• Chewing food to feed a child or a bird, and tasting food, which would not go down the throat, will not invalidate the fast, even if it happens to reach there inadvertently. However, if a person knows beforehand that it will reach the throat, his fast becomes void, and he should observe its qadha (Make up for the fast he has missed)and it is also obligatory upon him to give kaffarah (A penalty which is imposed for the deliberate and flagrant nullification of the fasting of Ramadhan).
• A person cannot abandon fasting on account of weakness. However, if his weakness is to such an extent that fasting becomes totally unbearable, there is no harm in breaking the fast.
• If a person who is observing fast, intentionally ascribes something false to Allah and the Prophet(pbuh) and the holy Imams (as), verbally or in writing or by making a sign, his fast becomes void, even if he may at once retract and say that he has uttered a lie or may repent for it.
• If a person in Janabat (A ritual impurity caused by the discharge of semen or by sexual intercourse; and the person on whom) does not take Ghusl (is the Islamic method of washing the body to obtain purification) intentionally till the time of Fajr prayers, his/her fast becomes void. And if a person, whose obligation is to do tayammum (an alternative to wudhu) willfully, does not do it, his/her fast will be also void.
• If a woman becomes pure from Haidh (Menstruation) or Nifas (Pre-Natal Bleeding) just near the time of Fajr prayers in the month of Ramadhan, and has no time left for Ghusl or tayammum, her fast is valid.
• If a woman becomes pure from Haidh or Nifas after the Fajr or if Haidh or Nifas begins during the day though just near the Maghrib time, her fast is void.
• There is no harm in travelling during the month of Ramadhan, but it is Makrooh (disliked) to travel during the month to evade fasting. And similarly, it is Makrooh to travel before the 24th of Ramadhan unless travelling is undertaken for the purpose of Hajj or Umrah, or for important work.
• If a traveller reaches his hometown after Dhuhur (Mid-day prayer), or a place where he intends to stay for ten days, he cannot fast on that day

Makrooh (disliked) acts whilst fasting

• Performing an act which causes weakness, like blood-letting (extracting the blood from the body) or going for a hot bath.
• Inhaling a snuff if one is not aware that it might reach the throat; and if one is aware that it will reach the throat its use is not permissible.
• Smelling fragrant herbs.
• For women, to sit in water.
• Wetting the dress one is wearing.
• Cleaning the teeth with a wet toothbrush.
• Putting water or any other liquid in the mouth without a good cause.

We pray Allah (swt) accepts the fasts of all Muslims and makes us from those who are forgiven by Allah (swt) in this holy month.

Credits: Palm image by The Blind Glass from Flickr.com;